DONALD TRUMP has not simply abandoned Ukraine – it feels like he has also abandoned America’s belief in freedom, democracy and any notion of moral decency.
The POTUS gloats that Ukraine is not his country’s concern, as there is “a great big, beautiful ocean and separation” between America and Ukraine’s mass graves, ruined cities and murderous invaders. True.
The Mega AgencyDonald Trump hasn’t simply abandoned Ukraine – it feels like he abandoned America’s belief in freedom[/caption]
GettyWhen Trump rants that Ukraine’s President Zelensky is a dictator, he sounds somewhere beyond merely wrong[/caption]
GettyWould Trump have sucked up to Hitler, just as he sucks up to Putin?[/caption]
But that same great big, beautiful ocean and separation was there when brave young Americans crossed it to fight against tyranny in the great wars of the last century.
Americans crossed that ocean in an age when the President of the United States was seen as the leader of the free world.
That age is over now.
And when Trump asserts that Europe needs to defend itself, he sounds like a reasonable, rational man who is saying nothing less than the honest truth.
But when he asserts that Ukraine started the war with Russia, Trump is about as wrong as any man could ever be.
And when he rants that Ukraine’s President Zelensky is a dictator who has not held elections since Russia’s murderous, unprovoked invasion — launched exactly three years ago tomorrow — Trump sounds somewhere beyond merely wrong.
Trump sounds deranged. Stupid. An appeaser of evil. And totally ignorant of history and the reality of war (Trump sat out his own generation’s war in Vietnam because he had painful feet, poor lamb).
Winston Churchill did not hold elections when this country was fighting for its life against Nazi Germany.
Would Trump have called Churchill a dictator?
Would Trump have victim-shamed the British as our cities burned, exactly as he is victim-shaming the Ukrainians today? Would Trump have sucked up to Hitler, just as he sucks up to Putin?
For all their belligerent macho talk, this MAGA White House looks pathetic as they genuflect to the ex-KGB thug in the Kremlin.
Trump raves about the “dictator” in Ukraine — but has the perma-tanned chump noticed that the greatest dictator Europe has seen since Stalin rules with an iron fist in Moscow, and anything resembling dissent often gets thrown out of a very high window?
Trump rails about the lack of democracy in Ukraine.
Has he even heard of Alexei Navalny, the courageous voice of opposition to Putin’s Russia, who was poisoned, imprisoned, and died in a prison colony in Western Siberia one year ago?
GettyWould Trump have called Churchill a dictator for not holding elections during a war?[/caption]
AFPKeir Starmer visits the US next week for their first face-to-face-meeting since Trump returned to the White House[/caption]
Vice-President JD Vance lectures Europe about freedom of speech.
Does Vance imagine there is anything remotely resembling free speech in Russia?
Trump henchman Elon Musk claims on his social media platform X that Ukraine’s Zelensky is “despised by the people of Ukraine”.
No, Elon — it is Donald Trump who many of us are learning to despise.
Too many on the right in the UK are terrified of offending Trump and walk on tiptoes around this global bully.
Trump sounds deranged. Stupid. An appeaser of evil.
Tony Parsons
Both Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage refute Trump’s sickening allegation that President Zelensky is a “dictator.”
But both Bojo and Farage try to excuse Trump’s puerile allegations. “Trump’s statements are not intended to be historically accurate but to shock Europeans into action,” insists Boris, while Farage says, “You shouldn’t always take everything Donald Trump says absolutely literally.”
Er — why not?
Keir Starmer visits the US next week for their first face-to-face-meeting since Trump returned to the White House.
If the PM can sell Trump a peace deal in Washington that does not allow Putin to claim any kind of victory, then he will have done an historic service to humanity. It will not be easy. Because Trump acts as if he knows the price tag of everything.
But not the value of freedom.
FINAL SAY ON VINYL
AUTHOR Marcel Proust felt his entire past flooding back when he took one bite of his childhood snack – a Madeleine cake.
I feel the same way when I hold a copy of Never Mind The Bollocks.
A vinyl copy, of course. Vinyl is back – big time.
Last year 6.7million of the old-school albums were sold in this country.
And this week John Lewis – best known for their home appliances and soft furnishings – teamed up with legendary indie record shop Rough Trade to sell vinyl in the department store.
Rough Trade will put together “a carefully curated selection of old and modern classics” for sale in John Lewis, including LPs by new acts like Chappell Roan and old favourites like Nevermind by Nirvana.
Nothing beats the tactile wonder of vinyl.
And if this vinyl revival continues, then one day I may even get something to play them on.
PAT ON WHITE TRACK
� Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO� and all related programs are the propeMy money is on Patrick Schwarzenegger – Arnie’s son – for being the breakout star of this series of The White Lotus[/caption]
EVERY series of The White Lotus has a breakout star.
In series one – set in Hawaii – Jennifer Coolidge reinvented her career with her portrayal of a neurotic rich lady looking for love and somewhere to scatter her mother’s ashes.
In series two, set in Sicily, Leo Woodall stole the show as a sexually ambivalent, West Ham-supporting yobbo with an unusually close relationship with his uncle. Now Leo is dating Bridget Jones in Mad About The Boy.
Who will be the star of the new series – set in the lush green splendour of Ko Samui in Thailand?
My money is on Patrick Schwarzenegger – Arnie’s son – who plays a nasty, rich sleazeball with a six-pack.
It is difficult to imagine that character appearing anywhere other than The White Lotus – still the best show on TV.
WAR OF WORDS
WHEN Jude Bellingham was sent off for using foul and abusive language last weekend during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna, his manager Carlo Ancelotti was quick to rush to his defence.
“The referee did not understand Bellingham’s English,” insisted the Real boss.
“He said ‘f*** off’, not ‘f*** you’ – that’s way different.”
It’s true that “f*** off” could be interpreted as an expression of surprise, whereas “f**** you” is more obviously abusive. Ancelotti is right.
The British have as many uses for the word “f***” as Eskimos have for snow.
The Jam: Now that was entertainment
RICK BUCKLER, who has died at the age of 69, was the thunderous heartbeat of one of this country’s most iconic bands – The Jam.
News of Rick’s death brought an outpouring of mourning.
GettyThe Jam were a real band. One of the great British groups[/caption]
For an entire generation, The Jam means more than The Beatles and Stones.
I knew The Jam in the very early days. Helped them carry their kit. Remember their fistfights. Recall Paul’s dad, John, driving their van.
I saw them play live in the tiniest of clubs, including one night at The Roxy when there were only four people in the audience – me and three members of The Clash.
Rick was always the quiet one – the Charlie Watts of punk.
Those early months of obscurity did not last long. The world fell in love with The Jam at first sight.
Soon, the three schoolmates from Woking were heading for Top Of The Pops.
The Jam were a punk band whose hit singles Eton Rifles, A Town Called Malice, In The City and Strange Town will live for ever. The Jam were one of those bands that formed in school.
They hit the big time because their youngest member – Paul Weller – was a generational talent.
But Rick and Bruce were far more than bit players.
The Jam were a real band. One of the great British groups.
And more than 40 years after they broke up, Rick Buckler would have smiled his slow, knowing smile to see how much he is still remembered, revered and loved.
NO TIME TO BUY, BOND
NOW that Amazon has control of the James Bond franchise, some wags have suggested that 007 will be receiving his new high-tech gadgets in a brown box.
In my experience, Bond’s hi-tech gadgets are just as likely to be delivered to the house next door.
For those of us who have loved Bond since the young Sean Connery had a twinkle in his eye, the big worry is that Amazon will milk the life out of the world’s favourite spy.
Every new chapter in the Star Wars saga used to be an event.
That ended when Disney bought Star Wars from Lucasfilm, leading to multiple sequels, prequels and spin-offs.
Since Daniel Craig first played Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, there have only been five Bond films. Five films in 16 years!
We are likely to see a lot more of James in the coming years.
But 007 survived Rosa Klebb, Auric Goldfinger and Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Bond will surely survive Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
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